In lieu of flowers, we ask friends and family to make a donation in his memory to Ronald McDonald House in New York, which can be done here: https://bit.ly/robert-dachille

Robert G. Dachille was born in 1960 to Francis and Patricia Dachille. The youngest of three boys, Robert was born just two months after the family moved from Queens into their home in Carle Place, NY — a home which would stay in the family for many years to come, seeing the Dachille boys’ childhoods and adolescence, and where the three boys’ children would later come to spend time with their grandparents. Growing up, Robert followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, playing several sports. Where he most shined was in track, where he competed in the high jump in high school. Like his father, he loved baseball. In later years, after his daughter Lauren was born, they would spend countless hours at the Carle Place house practicing wiffle ball in the backyard. Robert also later became a truly loyal Mets fan, making sure to catch almost every game, passionately exchanging critiques and commentary via text with his son-in-law Matt each night. Perhaps even more than sports though, Robert loved music. Like his parents, he was a great dancer, and would even compete in dance competitions throughout the 80’s. He was also the lead singer and guitarist in a band with his brother Thomas. His oldest brother Frank fondly remembers Robert and Thomas’s band playing a brief set at his wedding in 1979, which had all of the guests smiling and laughing.

Though the Dachilles didn’t go on many family vacations, a summer trip to the beach in Fenwick Island was one Robert would fondly remember, and a tradition he would start with his own family years later. Robert attended college at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, where his parents had met as students years before, and where his older brothers also received degrees. After college, Robert went into telecommunications sales full time. In this work, he was able to put to use his persuasive communication skills, as well as his love of fancy clothes, dressing up in his many tailored suits to call on customers. As someone who never liked cold weather, Robert would take any opportunity to vacation on a warm beach — and it was in 1985, on a trip to Puerto Rico, that he met his first wife Cathy. They had their daughter Lauren in 1988. Throughout the 90’s, Robert got his music fix through his part-time work as a DJ. Known as “DJ Bobby Dash,” he worked at a club in East Meadow called Zachary’s. He also DJ’d a number of volunteer and charitable events over the years, including the summer festival at Camp Anchor, a camp for children with special needs.

It was through his love for music and dancing that “Bobby” met his second wife Dee at a club on Long Island. He later moved in with Dee and her children, Lauren, Adam and Jessica, to the house in East Meadow that would be their home for the next three decades. Bobby and Dee were married on November 1, 1997. The night of their wedding, there was a major storm on Long Island, and the power went out at their wedding venue. Rather than allow a wedding without music, Bobby managed to find a boom box at the nearest Best Buy, along with an extremely long extension cord, and convinced one of the shops across the street that still had power to let them plug in. The party continued with their DJ working the boom box until the power came back on! Bobby loved Italian food, fancy suits, a good diner breakfast at any time of day, the Mets, and summer beach vacations. Over the years, he, Dee, and the kids took many trips to San Diego and Fenwick Island. To this day, everyone enjoys a laugh at the vacation when he burned a hole in the deck while grilling — and there were many other wonderful memories made on those trips over the years as the family grew to include a new generation: Adam and Stacey’s children, Tristan, Samantha and Ethan, Lauren and Matt’s children, Jackson and Julia, and Luis and Jessica’s daughter Miley. Although he hadn’t yet enjoyed a trip to Fenwick Island with Jessica and Luis’s beautiful baby Rosalia or Lauren and Frank’s baby Isabela, both granddaughters were lucky enough to meet and spend time with “Poppy Bob” during their first year of life.

In 2010, Bobby was diagnosed with Cancer, and over the years, through many illnesses, he maintained a positive outlook and a love of life. He became passionate about supporting children and families dealing with cancer and other pediatric illnesses, doing a great deal of charity work with Ronald McDonald house in New York, which provides support to families whose children are undergoing treatments at nearby hospitals, as well as "Great Days" for patients and their families to make happy memories together. His wife Dee was a dedicated partner and supporter through numerous surgeries and recoveries and his love for her was clear to everyone in their lives. Ten years after their first wedding, the two renewed their vows at St. Raphael’s Church in East Meadow. Robert is survived by his wife Dee, his children and grandchildren, his two brothers Frank and Thomas, and many loving family and friends. In lieu of flowers, we ask friends and family to make a donation in his memory to Ronald McDonald House in New York, which can be done here: https://bit.ly/robert-dachille